Data4 and Westinghouse to evaluate AP300 for data centre deployment
European data centre developer and operator Data4 is to evaluate the AP300 small modular reactor for deployment at one of its future European data centres under an agreement with Westinghouse Electric Company.
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The AP300 - which is based on the Westinghouse AP1000 pressurised water reactor - has been selected by Data4 as its technology of choice in a memorandum of understanding signed by the two companies on 11 March.
Data centre operators need abundant, highly reliable and clean power to operate 24/7, mission-critical digital services. Westinghouse says its AP300 technology meets this critical need by providing cost-effective, carbon-free baseload nuclear power in a safe, compact and flexible design based on the proven Westinghouse AP1000 pressurised water reactor.
The data centre industry is undergoing a profound transformation with the rise of artificial intelligence, Data4 CEO Olivier Micheli said. "In the past, data centres relied solely on traditional power utilities. Today, we are entering an era where the campuses of the future will be powered by multiple intelligent sources, seamlessly integrating on-site generation, traditional grid supply and energy storage," he said.
"By integrating a solution such as the Westinghouse AP300 SMR, these campuses will gain greater energy autonomy, reducing their reliance on traditional grids and helping to alleviate pressure on public power networks. This marks a major step toward a more resilient, sustainable and self-sufficient data centre infrastructure."
Westinghouse President and CEO Patrick Fragman said small modular reactors offer a promising solution for powering the next generation of energy-intensive computing. "Our AP300 modular reactor can provide data centres with a dedicated, on-site power source for reliable and carbon-free energy," he added.
Westinghouse claims its 300 MWe reactor design is the most proven and readily deployable small modular reactor solution, without the first-of-a-kind risks associated with other designs that are under development, because it uses AP1000 engineering, licensing, components and supply chain. The company says it expects the AP300 to be in operation by the early 2030s.
Data4 finances, designs, builds and operates its own data centres. Its 35 European data centres in France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Germany and Greece are grouped together on campuses, a model the company says offers an efficient and scalable solution for its customers.
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